The forbidden fruit.

I remember the first time I tried Havana Club. We were in Florida, and I was at Walmart picking out rum, and I had heard of this rum, though I was under the impression that it was unobtainium. But this one was bottled in Puerto Rico… sneaky sneaky! I figured that the Cubans just shipped their barrels to Puerto Rico, bottled it there, and sold it as “Puerto Rican rum”. Nope. My god, it’s gross.

So, we recently had a trip to the Dominican Republic. This was before I did proper rum reviews, or even knew what to look for in a rum, so all I can really say is that I enjoyed Brugal Extra Viejo quite a bit, but I couldn’t give you any more details. That’ll have to be a review for a different day. However, at the airport on the way back home, I saw the real Havana Club in duty free, and decided to grab a bottle of the 7 year (as it was the most aged and most expensive, therefore objectively the best). Then, as I was checking out, I decided to grab the other two (3 and Añejo Reserva) just for good measure. I understand that Añejo Blanco, Añejo Especial, and 15 year (and maybe some others) also exist, but these were not options at the airport.

Review

Smell

Notes of vanilla, caramel, molasses, and oak, but much less alcohol smell and more of a caramel molasses smell.

Taste

This rum reminds me of Angostura 7, with how bold the oak flavor is, but also with some caramel and molasses notes. The bitterness level is somewhere between 3 year and reserva.

In a daiquiri, it makes an oaky and molassesy, slightly bitter daiquiri. It’s not bad, but it’s not what I would look for in a daiquiri.

In a mojito, there’s actually something quite bold about it, as if the mint shines more in this one. I tried to make every drink exactly the same and add the same amount of each ingredient, so I don’t know if this mojito just got more mint or more powerful mint by accident, or if this rum is just particularly good at making mojitos, but I just had 3 shots, 3 mojitos, and 3 daiquiris in the past hour (all half-sized, but still…), and I kind of don’t feel like redoing this experiment, so I’ll let the results stand. This rum makes a killer mojito, and ties for my favorite along with the fruity notes of 3 year.

Verdict 6/10

(Edited from 6.5/10 on 1/20/26)

I believe that a lot of the appeal of these rums is the verboten nature of their acquisition, but judging them objectively, they’re good rums, but not something that can’t be beat by other Spanish-style column still rums.

My 2nd favorite, 7 year, reminded me a lot of Angostura 7. It’s very vanilla, caramel, and oak forward, like other aged column still rums (though I would say that Angostura 7 is a bit more oak forward while Havana Club 7 year is a bit more molasses forward), and while I don’t prefer it as much as 3 year, it’s interesting, and makes a mean mojito. I give it a 6.5/10.

January 20, 2026 Update:

These have kinda not stood the test of time.

I do put a bit more respect on the name of aged rums now. Havana Club 7 is a vibe. I thought it was a very oak forward rum. Now I’ve had some better ones, and it just sort of has a weak body and it tastes oakier than I feel like it should. Also, in comparison to a really deep and rich barrel-driven rum like a Doorly’s 14 or Chairman’s Reserve, it just tastes anemic and sour. Overall it’s still above average though. I’ll give it a 6/10.